[07/22/07 - 09:24 AM]Emmy-Winning Drama "24" Makes Landmark Commitment to Fighting Climate ChangeProducers will strive to become the first television production ever to save enough energy and reduce enough carbon emissions over the course of a season to render its entire season finale "carbon neutral."

Show Will Take Significant Steps to Reduce its Carbon Footprint For Season Seven with the Goal of Accruing Enough Emissions Savings To Render Entire Season Finale Carbon Neutral; "24" Hopes to Inspire Other Series and Millions of Viewers To Join Fight to Curb Climate Change

July 22, 2007, Hollywood, CA � "24," the Emmy Award-winning series from Imagine and Twentieth Century Fox Television, will strive to become the first television production ever to save enough energy and reduce enough carbon emissions over the course of a season to render its entire season finale "carbon neutral," it was announced today. In addition to making significant changes to its own production practices, the series aims to educate and inspire its millions of viewers to take climate change and the fight against global warming seriously and personally, before it's too late, said executive producer/show-runner Howard Gordon and Twentieth Century Fox Television Chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman.

"We care deeply about this issue at �24,' and we wanted to do our own small part to be part of the solution," commented Howard Gordon. "We looked at how we produce the show, and realized that there were some substantive changes we could implement which would make a real difference. But even more importantly, we hope to inspire our audience to look at what they can do in their own lives to help stem global warming. We think this will be the beginning of a conversation with our millions of viewers that will hopefully inspire them to take action around the world."

"Fighting the dangers of climate change is an initiative that this whole company takes very seriously, and what better show than �24' to lead the way?", commented TCFTV Chairmen Newman and Walden. "This series has a proud tradition of innovation and futuristic thinking and we couldn't be more excited that Howard and his team have embraced this bold challenge. Not only can we encourage other television series to follow their example, but we intend to use our powerful platform as content providers to communicate directly with the people of the world about how we can reverse this serious environmental threat."

Beginning with production on Season 7, "24" intends to implement the following carbon emission reduction techniques and important initiatives:

Introducing the use of biodiesel fuels to power generators and production vehicles;

Previously, the show powered its electric generators and large transportation vehicles with diesel fuel. This season, the show intends to use a combination of petroleum diesel and biodiesel (a clean-burning alternative fuel produced from renewable resources), which should result in emission reductions ranging from 5% on the vehicles to as much as 100% on the generators.

Running all on-stage production activities on "green power";

Through the L.A. Department of Water and Power, the show will purchase all of its energy from renewable power sources (such as wind, water and solar). As a result, this "green energy" will be brought into the Los Angeles power grid from outlying areas, thereby reducing overall emissions and pollution in greater Los Angeles.

Rewiring an entire stage to use electric, rather than diesel-generated, power;

Previously, one of the two stages housing "24"' had insufficient power capacity necessary to light the sets and run the equipment, necessitating the use of supplemental diesel-gas-fueled generators. Twentieth Century Fox Television is investing in rewiring this building, which it leases, so that no diesel generators will be needed this season.

Integrating fuel-saving and low-emission hybrid vehicles into the production fleet;

This season, the show intends to incorporate as many lower-emission vehicles as possible into departments that require considerable road trave,l such as Locations, Transportation and Production Assistance.

Creating a series of PSAs about the issue starring Kiefer Sutherland and key cast members;

Kiefer Sutherland has already shot a public service announcement describing "24"'s commitment to this issue. This season, the series intends to participate in a series of PSAs educating viewers about climate change and offering information about how they can be part of the solution.

When appropriate, incorporating the issue of global warming and the importance of carbon emission reduction into storylines;

Posting information, resources and do-it-yourself techniques for viewers to reduce their own carbon footprints on the "24" page at Fox.com;

Accruing enough carbon reduction savings through these and other innovations to render production of the entire final episode officially "carbon neutral."

Carbon neutrality refers to a product having a balance of zero between the amount of carbon absorbed and the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere during the production of the product. Carbon neutrality is achieved through energy reduction, green power use, and purchasing "offsets" which represent investment in alternative energy and carbon reduction.

"While the changes we are making are ambitious and groundbreaking, they are really just the beginning of our industry getting behind this issue," commented Walden and Newman. "There are still considerable obstacles to overcome, whether it's encouraging investment in greener television production technologies, or simply forcing ourselves and our partners to think and do things differently. That said, we believe that we should not let what we cannot achieve get in the way of the things we can. And the next season of �24' is the perfect place to start."

[03/16/18 - 11:30 AM]USA Network Renews "The Sinner" for Season 2Season two lures Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) back to his hometown in rural New York to assess an unsettling and heart wrenching crime - parents murdered by their 11-year-old son, with no apparent motive.